With over two million copies sold worldwide, "The Worldly Philosophers" is one of the most widely read texts on the history of economics ever written. It defines the common thread linking the world's greatest economic thinkers from Adam Smith to Malthus, from Marx to John Maynard Keynes, and explores the philosophies that motivated them. This not only enables us to see more deeply into our history, but, through undertsanding how a capitalist society works, also helps us to better understand our own times. In a bold new last chapter entitled "The End of the Worldly Philosophers", Heilbroner reminds us that the word "end" refers both to the purpose and the limits of economics. He argues that today's increasingly "scientific" economics may overlook fundamental social and political issues that are central to economics. Thus, unlike its predecessors, this new edition provides not just an indispensable illumination of our past, but also a call to action for our future.

About the Author

Robert L Heilbroner is the Norman Thomas Professor of Economics, Emeritus at the New School For Social Research, New York. He is author of more than 20 books, and has contributed to the New Yorker. He lives in New York City.